Road to Revolution

The Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

• Members of Sons of Liberty dump over 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor
• Caused problems for loyalists

First Colonial Congress Meets

Sep 5, 1774

• All colonies but Georgia have representatives
• Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
• Voted to boycott all British Trade
• Patrick Henry -- VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain

1,000's of Redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

• General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

• Paul Revere rides to warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that "The British are coming... The British are coming.."

Battle of Lexington & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

• 1st shot of American Revolutionary war
• "Shot heard around the world" Ralph Waldo Emerson BRITISH VICTORY

-Americans stop the British and force them to retreat back to Boston
AMERICAN VICTORY

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen captured the fort
-Got all supplies in the fort including cannons
- American Victory

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

Print $$$$
Set up post office
Created Continental Army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
King hires 30,000 Hessian Soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• Fought on Breed's Hill
• "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott -BRITISH Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learned that defeating the Americans would NOT be easy.

“Common Sense” published by Thomas Paine

1776

pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
“Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART” -Thomas Paine, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
BRITISH retreat – AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

Debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence

The Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776